Reid, Eagles disagree about leadership deficit

PHILADELPHIA -- A six-game losing streak and a head coach in distress should activate the airbags.

After all, that qualifies as a wreck.

Yet only a few Eagles have gone above and beyond their duties to save Andy Reid in an industry in which it takes everyone on game days.

Too many Eagles are looking at the holes, proclaiming they're fixable and walking away using the old "everybody do your own job" as a defense.

The Eagles need leaders. Incredibly, some of the guys who owe it to teammates to lead are torn over what a leader really is.

"Whoever it is, somebody is going to have to be that person," wide receiver DeSean Jackson said earlier this week. "Myself, I'm not a big vocal guy as far as the yelling and screaming and all that. I just try to go out there and show by example, playing hard and making plays. As far as anyone being that vocal guy, there's really no one on this team like a Brian Dawkins. We don't have that here."

For his part, Reid doesn't believe direction is an issue.

"We've got good leaders on the team," Reid said.

Jackson, however, suspects something is missing. Or somebody. Whatever happened to Brian Dawkins?

"When I was here as a young guy coming up through the organization that was who we counted on -- Brian Dawkins," Jackson said before adding Brian Westbrook to the list. "Guys like that. You know, guys who have been here years. With the guys here now, we just have to mold together and figure out a way to get it done."

Jackson is on pace for 70 receptions, 1,106 yards and three touchdowns.

Jeremy Maclin is on pace for 57 catches, 718 yards and six TDs.

They combined for two receptions worth five yards in the 31-6 loss last week to the Redskins.

Jackson, who had the catches, was targeted nine times, Maclin three times.

Maclin was asked if he could have done more to help rookie quarterback Nick Foles, who completed 21 of 46 attempts for 204 yards and two interceptions.

"You know, our job as a receiver is to be reliable and be there when the quarterback needs me," Maclin said. "Whether he comes my way or not is nothing that I can control. All I can control is being able to be in the right spot to make plays. And that's it."

Foles said he threw several short passes, including check-downs, basically because of the conditions.

"I guess if you looked at the film it would show that," Foles said. "I've just got to play within myself, understand what's coming at me and make the best decisions."

Interestingly, Foles spoke about feeding Jackson and Maclin while alluding to the offensive line that's been in constant flux due to injuries and personnel changes.

"The key to a great team and a great offense is having a great O-line, it starts with them," Foles said. "And then getting the ball into your playmakers' hands. Those two guys are our playmakers. We need to get them the ball."

Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg blamed himself for not making proper use of the starting wide receivers.